The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is designed to balance privacy, efficiency, and quality. A covered entity generally does not need your permission to share your protected health information (PHI) with another covered entity for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, commonly referred to as TPO. For example, a doctor will generally not ask your permission before:
- Sending your records to a second doctor for a second opinion (treatment);
- Consulting with another health care provider regarding your medical status (treatment);
- Asking TRICARE for reimbursement for the services you received (payment);
- Sharing medical services provided for coverage and justification of charges (payment);
- Reviewing your records to conduct MHS provider training programs, including certification and licensing (health care operations); and
- Reviewing your records to see if your doctor followed protocol (health care operations).
However, HIPAA does give you the right to:
- Learn how the Military Health System (MHS) will use and disclose your PHI;
- Request to limit who can access your PHI;
- Find out when a covered entity discloses your PHI to others;
- Request to view and receive a copy of your PHI; and
- Request to amend your PHI if incorrect or incomplete.
HIPAA also requires the MHS to:
- Make sure your PHI is stored securely if maintained electronically;
- Make sure your PHI is available when you need healthcare; and
- Notify you if your PHI is lost or stolen.
You also may be interested in...
Fact Sheet
May 14, 2014
.PDF |
703.77 KB
This document represents an updated mapping of the HIPAA Security Rule to select DOD policies and IA controls. It does not constitute the rendering of legal advice or an exhaustive list of all possible mappings of the Security Rule to DOD policies or IA controls. The document is intended to provide general information and to allow different ...
You are leaving Health.mil
The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense of non-U.S. Government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the Defense Health Agency may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for Department of Defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.
You are leaving Health.mil
View the external links disclaimer.
Last Updated: July 11, 2023